Mon Mar 17 00:00:00 UTC 2025: ## James Taylor Expands Summer Tour, Mastodon Recruit Stand-In Guitarist, and John Munson Suffers Stroke

**NEW YORK, NY** – Singer-songwriter James Taylor is expanding his summer tour with 17 newly added dates, kicking off August 21st in Vienna, VA, and concluding September 17th in Fort Worth, TX. The tour will feature Taylor’s “All-Star Band,” and tickets go on sale March 14th. This announcement follows Taylor’s Grammy win for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for his 2020 release, *American Standard*.

Meanwhile, in the world of metal, Mastodon has enlisted YouTuber and session guitarist Ben Eller to replace Brent Hinds, who recently left the band. Eller impressively filled in for Hinds on guitar and vocals during a 17-song set at Tool’s Dominican Republic festival. He may continue with Mastodon as their touring guitarist for their upcoming co-headlining tour with Coheed and Cambria.

Finally, the music community is rallying around Minnesota bassist John Munson, known for his work with Semisonic, Trip Shakespeare, and The New Standards. Munson suffered a stroke on February 23rd and is currently undergoing rehabilitation. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support his family, nearing its $100,000 goal. While his prognosis is positive, the length of his recovery remains uncertain.

Read More